Avionics News February 2015 - 34

GENESYS AEROSYSTEMS
Continued from page 33

As far as your dealers are concerned,
which of your product categories is
the most active?
SMITH: HeliSAS is very active
and offers lots of opportunities for
the avionics shops and our dealer
network. It has taken off strongly,
both in the specific EMS activities
and in general applications, and
for private operators.
The second is the 55X autopilot
- it's particularly versatile and
capable. It's a great solution for
budget-conscious owner/operators.
For example, the two-axis, fullfunction autopilot is currently
being offered for a single-engine
aircraft at less than $20,000.
That is a very active area for the
avionics shops now.

SMITH: It all starts with delivering a quality product
on time. We're trying to make sure we never leave our
dealers high and dry with any concerns
with what they are getting and when
they are getting it to schedule a
customer's aircraft into their shop.
A CR I T I CA L F O CU S
Following through from being able
FOR 2 0 15 I S H OW D O
to get them what they want at a decent
WE S U P P O RT NOT
price on time to the education, support
ONLY O U R D O M E S T I C
and the seminars - we want to make
CUSTO M E R S ,
sure we make our dealers successful.

BU T HOW DO WE
E X PAND THAT
I NTERNATIONALLY,
A S WELL?

What does the new Genesys direction mean
to your dealers and avionics shops?

SMITH: They need to know there is a great future with
our autopilots - they can absolutely continue to make the
pilots and owners happy. They can continue to do it the
same way they've been doing it for years.
We also are refocused on what the shops need, making
sure we are easy to do business with, and that we are
providing a product their customers are going to want.
LUSTER: I think our recent announcement of the
HeliSAS on the Robinson R44 is going to be hugely
expansive. A lot of shops that may not be able to work on
an AS350 or a Bell 407 will be able to work on the R44.
This will enhance what they can do with the HeliSAS
product line.
To add onto what Roger said, we want to have the
philosophy of being a flexible company, a kind of
company that will be there for our dealers. We recognize
it's not just the person who is flying the airplane that is
our customer, but the dealers are, as well.
It's important for us to show them that support, not
only for the sale but after the sale, as well. We're hoping
to further that with improved customer support and
improved turntimes for repairs - all of those things.
34

avionics news

february

2015

A critical focus for 2015 is how do we support not
only our domestic customers, but how do we expand that
internationally, as well?

What is Genesys Aerosystems
doing to help its dealers sell
these products?

SMITH: We're getting the message
out more clearly to our dealers and
their customers. Industry publications
like Avionics News help tell our story,
and they help the avionics shops understand what we are
doing. Sometimes, communicating to 600-plus avionics
shops is a trick.

LUSTER: Everybody will be pleasantly surprised that
we are trying to keep our pricing in line with what the
opportunities are and what the market is willing to spend.
Roger mentioned we are offering the single-engine 55X
autopilot at a low price point that is very realistic for
someone flying a piston single.
We're also more than willing to assist with any comarketing opportunities the shops want. We will help
them with images, logos, media collaboration - we are
going to get new signage to them to promote our name.
Whatever we can do to help them sell is what we want to
do moving forward.

What does the near-future hold for
Genesys Aerosystems?

SMITH: The near future in avionics is probably
measured in hours, isn't it? Things change fast. We're not
trying to make our current products redundant. We are
trying to make our products more helpful than they have
been.
Continued on page 36

Avionics News February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News February 2015